Canoe and clothing recovered.
By Greg Angel
Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 6:33 p.m.
Read more: Local, Topinabee, Missing Boaters, Cheboygan County, Mullet Lake
TOPINABEE -- The search continued Thursday for two missing boaters in Cheboygan County.
Orbie Longway, 36, and his wife Billi Jo, 33, of Topinabee were last seen Tuesday night as they departed in their canoe to go fishing on Mullet Lake.
Deputies were called the following day after the two were not seen.
Described by friends as 'loving, caring, and kind,' Orbie and Billi Jo are parents to three young children, ages 9, 7, and 5.
"They're family people, they'd be here with their daughters if there was any way possible," said Ron Labrecque, Orbi's best friend of 15 years. "Their van was here overnight, they found their canoe, something is not right."
In what is one of the largest lakes in the state, approximately 10 square miles, crews are using every resource available to them include a cadaver dog, side sonar equipment and divers in the water.
The couple's car was located in the Topinabee public beach parking lot. In addition, crews have recovered the couple's canoe which was found ashore on the opposite side of the lake. Also found drifting in the water were Orbie's hat and Billi Jo's jacket.
"All indications are that the individuals probably capsized and are probably in the lake," said Sheriff Dale Clarmont of Cheboygan County.
During Thursday's operation, crews have been able to focus their search to a one mile area of the lake. In their attempts to locate the pair, divers are facing water temperatures around 55-degrees and depths ranging from 20 to 90 feet.
For friends like Ron Labrecque, their focus is remaining on the three young children left behind.
"They were thinking about the future for their kids, Orbie always wanted to make sure his kids were raised and safe, something I"ll have to do now," Labrecque said. "I feel obligated to do, they know me as an uncle you know, they don't have much family other than Orbie and Billi Jo."
Sheriff Clarmont adds that at this time information they received indicates alcohol was likely a factor in the accident. Clarmont maintains they'll continue the search for as long as it takes.
